Mercedes launched a glance on the powertrain expertise of its upcoming electrical CLA, and it contains tons of neat EV tech and a few attention-grabbing choices for battery expertise and what seems to be essentially the most versatile charging system we’ve seen but.
We’ve already realized a good quantity in regards to the CLA after first seeing the idea final 12 months, and Mercedes launched a couple of new specifics at present concerning its powertrain.
In line with earlier info we knew, the CLA is concentrating on extraordinarily excessive effectivity of 12kWh/100km, which interprets to only 193Wh/mi or 5.2mi/kWh. That’s extra environment friendly than anything on the highway at present – with Lucid’s Air Pure reaching 200Wh/mi, or 5mi/kWh. And simply lower than what Tesla is claiming the Cybercab can be able to, at 5.5kWh/mi.
That is because of Mercedes’ new compact EDU 2.0 electrical motor, which is a part of its new Mercedes Modular Structure (MMA) which is able to underpin its upcoming electrical automobiles. The drive motor can be 200kW on the rear axle, although all-wheel drive fashions can be accessible with an extra 80kW unit on the entrance axle. A two-speed transmission will guarantee effectivity at excessive speeds and low.
For extra effectivity in chilly climate, the CLA will use an air-to-air warmth pump which is ready to seize warmth from the motor, battery, and ambient air to warmth the cabin. Whereas batteries and motors don’t make practically as a lot waste warmth as inefficient ICE engines, it’s nonetheless good to have the ability to channel warmth to wherever you want it.
Mercedes says that the CLA will come geared up with a selection of two totally different batteries, every with totally different chemistries.
The bigger 85kWh mannequin can be able to an unnecessarily-high 750km (466mi) of WLTP vary – although WLTP numbers are at all times greater than EPA numbers, so count on one thing within the high-300s in EPA parlance. This battery will add silicon oxide to the anode for greater power density, a expertise that has been pioneered by Sila Nanotechnologies, an organization which Mercedes is a lead investor in.
The smaller battery can be 58kWh, and can use lithium iron phosphate (LFP) chemistry. LFP is a less expensive however decrease power density expertise, with greater long-term sturdiness and easier sourcing of minerals (it makes use of no cobalt, whereas Mercedes says cobalt has been “decreased” within the bigger batteries). Nonetheless, LFP typically has slower quick charging and chilly climate efficiency.
On charging: the “premium” battery may have an 800V configuration able to as much as 320kW charging speeds. Mercedes says this could add 300km (186mi) of vary in 10 minutes, and in addition says that the automotive may have a broad charging curve, which suggests you’ll get excessive cost charges even when the battery isn’t near empty. It didn’t specify if the smaller LFP battery may have the identical cost charge.
This excessive charging charge allowed Mercedes to set a report touring 3,717km (2,309mi) in 24 hours on the Nardo take a look at monitor in Italy in a pre-production CLA. That’s a mean journey charge of 96mph – together with time spent charging.
We additionally realized one thing about Mercedes’ NACS adoption plans. Whereas nearly everybody has dedicated to transitioning vehicles to NACS, it has taken longer than anticipated (largely because of Tesla’s chaotic CEO firing the entire supercharger crew for little cause), and few vehicles have native NACS inlets but. Some manufacturers can already cost at Superchargers with adapters, however Mercedes continues to be on Tesla’s “coming quickly” web page.
On account of delays in onbaording automakers, some appear to have pulled again on their plans, pushing NACS ports to later mannequin years. However Mercedes has a brand new and distinctive resolution – it’s going to simply put each CCS and NACS ports on the CLA, proper on prime of one another.
Mercedes says “sooner or later, new entry-level fashions can be able to bidirectional charging,” however isn’t clear whether or not this mannequin can be able to that.
Electrek’s Take
Whereas that is in need of a full launch of specs, we’re excited by what we see right here. Mercedes appears to verify that they’re assembly the effectivity targets they set out, and we like that they’re providing a wide range of choices and making the most of some newer EV tech like 800V charging infrastructure.
The inclusion of each NACS and CCS could be very attention-grabbing, once more providing choices to homeowners throughout the transition. That appears to be the massive message from Mercedes right here – we’re not going to only decide one device, we’re going to make use of all of them.
However pricing and availability are clearly large questions, as is design.
The idea seems implausible, however ideas at all times change on their manner into manufacturing. The form of the camouflaged take a look at car could be very totally different – however seems to have some shrouding on the back and front to cover its form, so we’ll have to attend till we see this factor unveiled for extra.
And as for pricing – Mercedes says the CLA can be an “entry-level” automotive, however who is aware of what which means anymore as of late. The bottom ICE CLA begins at round $44k at the moment, so lets see if they will hit that quantity.
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